One of my favorite Grateful Dead afternoon’s of all time. This was my first Frost show, and to this day the venue exceeds expectation. I remember scoring very-hard-to-get tickets from a guy on a motorcycle out front. I was in a budding relationship with a really cute girl. The doses were clean, and I was with a good crew. As the music goes, the show was a better than average for 1988, which I consider an “off“ year. Hey Pocky Way was fantastic and memorable. As a keyboard player I ate that up. Ramble On and Let It Grow were great too. There was a nice long Shakedown, and the rest of the second set that followed made for a very enjoyable afternoon. But what makes this show especially stand out, is what happened next. A whole bunch of us were chanting “one more set” before the encore. If you turn the recording way up and listen closely, you can hear us. Apparently, it had an effect. I don’t ever remember seeing a 3-song encore outside of a New Year’s show. We were ecstatic at the first notes of China Cat. What a treat! The rest of the day was also very memorable, but that’s another story.

Polished and pretty. No this was far more exhilarating, spontaneous, fresh, new and it was raw like a roaring lion.As I remembered that afternoon. The wind was up and swirling for the 2nd and the shakedown was a gem. The standout though on this day was the Space. Garcia had it really cranked up and the sustain, Wow!

Sorry folks, for whatever reason, this has to be one of the crappiest, sloppiest shows I've heard in a while.

No guitar for Bobby, and where's Phil? Terrible mix. Very rushed tempos, where's the fire Billy?

Not to say this show doesn't have some fun moments, first "Good Times Roll" played, Hey Pocky Way, Man Smart with the GDTRFB tease, triple encore, even though Jerry flubs China Cat. Awful sloppy playing. You know I still love'em.

Hope the next night is better! Three stars just because I love the tapers and the Archive!

Not only a Bobby's guitar malfunctioned as mentioned in the Pre-FM.Lai, but it seems this was when someone climbing in a branch over the crowd's edge freaked out during Watchtower. So that's why it was cut short -- it was on Jerry's side and he went into Black Peter a bit early.

This record isn't so great, but I give 4 stars anyway. Frat boy lessons, freakouts, or busts -- always odd little things around Stanford.

Both are commonly played, but tonight they have a special resonance. The Shakedown has a consistent up-tempo that sets it aside as one of the high points of the show. Energy is up for the second set and the jam out of Shakedown emulates better things to come in 89'. The Women are Smarter starts off with Brent vocals and also serves as an example of his strengthening presence that would make late 80s dead so special. The first set is creative, and like many 88' first sets, strays from the generic. The Hey Pocky Way is especially appreciated. All in all, this show is one of those shows that Brent made special. RIP

The Let the Good Times Roll and the China>Rider>Sat Night encore are clearly the highlights here. The rest of the show is solid, but not spectacular. 4 stars for the China>Rider encore surprise and for having no clunkers.

Long time listener first time reviewer: In the early 90's in the days of the Dead flames usergroup I read a review of this show that described the great sound and great performance by Brent. I emailed the poster and asked if he'd like to trade tapes and he was very generous to just send me a couple of XLII's of this show. I gave away my tape collection a long time ago and have relied on the Archive for the last two years (THANK YOU ARCHIVE!!!). This is my first time listening to this show since I had the tapes and it is as good as I remember. Whoever sent me those tapes, I'm sure you're using the Archive so thank you again for being kind. Hope to see you somewhere down the line.

The GD collection in the archive is a tape collectors dream come true!! The value of this collection is impossible to measure for so many people. Thank you again to all the tapers, netheads and the band for making this possible.

the first Good times roll and the triple play encore give this a 4 star rating. Supposedly there were sound issues in the second set that led to the nice mini encore set as a gift. I'll take it.

The SBD is still available - downloading as I "speak." It sounds really good. Give it listen and download yourself.

Going home will have that effect.

1st Set: Alright! :) This is the debut of the brawny soul number, "LTGTR." Already, it warms up my shivering blood. Jesus, Bobby already has to oversing, and it's the first time he's performing the tune. :) "Stranger" sounds fresh and has a bit of a bite. Jerry's voice is a marked improvmement over much of Spring '88 in a smooth, liltingly lovely "Row." "Walkin" is lively with a mild chug. "Next tune is a drummers' choice." (Bobby) "Pocky" is sunny. "Ramble" innocuously pokes itself around. Although "Let" never becomes explosively outrageous, it's a nicely constructed never dull, mellow thoughtful affair.

2nd Set: "Shakedown" is brisk and relatively up-tempo though a tad too light and uncomplicated. Boyish Brent takes over lead vocal duties during 1st verse of a light-hearted "Man Smart." Smiles. Yes, we just don't get enough of "Ship." That being said, this self-righteous ditty is more compelling than the norm due to a sturdy backbone from the rhythm section. "Playin" is a worthy choice to continue the show and thematically it fits the gig: fluid and easily listenable but not especially intense. "Drums" is a bit more of the war machine I'm looking for. "Space" is fine. A spirited "GDTRFB" emerges from the cacophony. Who is that knocking on my right speaker during a raucous, brash "Watchtower?" The grunge continues during a gloriously sloshed and wrecked "Black Peter." "Sugar" would make you aware of the breezy night... swell playing but rid rushed.

Ummm...don;t tell me that anyone saw this coming. Instead of exiting with a ballad, they opt for "China->Rider." It's definitely got a bare-bones enocre feel though they're still fun fun fun. As is, oh my goodness, another encore -all fo these songs are cause it's "Saturday night" I want to hear crunching guitars, not Brent's swirling thin Hammond... but it's feisty anyways.

3 1/3rd stars

great tracks of a few favorites.
thanks again to those who saved it for when i learned to truly appreciate the music...

I even brought my mom and sister with my buddy's parents it was like a family picnic. I had to smuggle in the glass horseradish bottle for the oysters. MAn what a show black peter definitely more intense than all along the watchtower great shakedown and the encore well .The sound quality is amazing thank you archive for giving us the chance to relive these moments

was a great place to see a show. You could hang out under the oak trees and smell the eucalyptus or get down the front row where there was always room. This was a magic afternoon. Breakout of LTGTR had Jerry smiling all the way through. The triple encore of China -> Rider -> Saturday Night was a treat. Unusual setlists and great vibes like this day kept me coming back.